Masters 2012: Why only eight players can win

THE Masters throws up fewer surprise winners than any other Major. Which is hardly surprising when you think about it, since rank outsiders do not even make it through the gates.

Apart from the size of the field, another key factor is the constant venue. You can think of a rookie trying to win the Masters as the equivalent of an away match against an opponent who has been a member at his course for 30 years.

As well as creating an obvious shortlist of potential winners, it is also possible to identify big names who are less likely to win the Masters this year than you might think.

Click HERE to read our step-by-step exclusion of all but eight of the Masters field…